Politics

After an EU justice ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Justice Minister David van Weel warned the Netherlands is vigilant about likely Iranian cyberattacks that could target US and Israeli interests and possibly spread to other targets.

The ECB is on guard about the impact of the Middle East conflict on eurozone inflation amid sharply rising oil and gas prices. Policymakers call the situation volatile and say it is too early to judge the implications for future rate decisions; the bank is expected to hold rates at its next meeting.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority is calling for urgent government action to regulate artificial intelligence and protect citizens from discrimination. The watchdog warns that current oversight is insufficient to manage risks such as deepfakes, fraud, and the impact of chatbots on young users.

European gas prices jumped by more than 9% on Thursday morning, reaching €53.26 per megawatt-hour on the Amsterdam exchange as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its sixth day. Although a US-led plan to protect shipping briefly steadied markets on Wednesday, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has fueled fears of a long-term energy shortage. This latest price spike was triggered by Iranian claims of an attack on an American tanker in the Persian Gulf, leaving traders increasingly worried about the security of vital global fuel supplies.

A new report from the FNV trade union suggests that government spending cuts will hit women harder than men. The union argues that reduced social security and healthcare services will force many women out of the workforce to take on unpaid care roles. Following a meeting with the cabinet, unions are now preparing industrial action to protest these measures.

Ten political parties in Eindhoven have pledged to improve LGBTQI+ inclusion and visibility by signing the Pink Ballot Agreement. The cross-party commitment includes measures to ensure equal treatment in areas such as healthcare, education, and local events. Supporters believe the agreement will create a safer and more welcoming environment for all city residents.

Eindhoven officials are set to meet with housing corporations to address social housing tenants who also own private property. This move follows a court ruling in Amsterdam that allowed a corporation to terminate a lease under similar circumstances. While exact local figures are unknown, the city is looking to improve data sharing to prevent the potential abuse of social housing.

A KLM aircraft scheduled to return to the Netherlands on Saturday is currently stranded in Dubai after regional attacks prompted widespread airspace restrictions and flight suspensions. Passengers have been offered hotel accommodation while the airline awaits safe conditions to resume operations.